Grey’s Anatomy Season 20 Could Be Getting a Major Episode Cut
The next season of Grey’s Anatomy may look a lot different than previous seasons because of the Hollywood strikes. How many episodes will Grey’s Anatomy Season 20 have? Read on to learn everything we know.
Grey’s Anatomy is ABC’s long-running medical drama that focuses on the lives of surgical interns, residents and attendings at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in Seattle, Washington. Created by Shonda Rhimes, the show debuted in 2005 and has earned more than 38 Primetime Emmy nominations after almost two decades on the air.
In March 2023, Grey’s Anatomy was renewed for a 20th season by ABC. Because of the (now-resolved) writers’ strike and the ongoing actors’ strike, ABC pushed all of its scripted content, including Grey’s Anatomy, The Rookie, Station 19 and Will Trent, to 2024. ABC stated that the timing of these shows “will be announced at a later date,” according to People.
Deadline reports that after the WGA strike ended on September 27, networks began crafting plans to return to production to save seasons of “at least 13 episodes” for their most successful scripted series, including Grey’s Anatomy.
However, SAG-AFTRA and the studios have still not reached a deal that would allow the actors to get back to work. As of Nov. 4, SAG-AFTRA was reviewing the AMPTP’s “last, best, and final offer.”
How many episodes will Grey’s Anatomy Season 20 have?
How many episodes will Grey’s Anatomy Season 20 have? Grey’s Anatomy is allegedly planning to produce a 10-episode season, according to Deadline. The report also notes that “this is all fluid and can easily change as SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP continue talks,” so the exact number could easily change.
If Season 20 of Grey’s is reduced to 10 episodes, it would be the shortest season of the show since Season 1, which had only nine episodes because it was released mid-season. Previous seasons have ranged between 17 and 27 episodes in length.
This wouldn’t be the first time Grey’s Anatomy has endured episode cuts. When the WGA went on strike from November 2007 to February 2008, only 16 of the 23 episodes ordered for Season 4 were made.
It’s important to note that a series needs 3-6 weeks for prep and pre-production. So if the SAG-AFTRA gets resolved in the next week, filming for these shows can resume at the end of November or the start of December. “That would allow established series to produce 13 episodes, which would fit within the broadcast season,” Deadline says.
Many of your favorite stars are slated to return for the upcoming season, including the last two remaining original cast members, James Pickens Jr, and Chandra Wilson, as well as Kim Raver, Kevin McKidd, Camilla Luddington and Caterina Scorsone.
Before the actors’ strike, Ellen Pompeo (who exited the medical drama last season) said that she would try to make a cameo in Grey’s Anatomy Season 20. “I will be making some appearances hopefully next year, if I can find some time,” Pompeo told Heigl in Variety’s Actors on Actors interview. “It’s not a complete goodbye. And I think we’ve got an interesting story to tell,” the actress added.
We’ll keep you updated as we learn more.